The Horn in Nashville Offers Food and Community During Ramadan Nights

 

We are now more than three weeks into the holy month of Ramadan, a time of fasting and spiritual reflection for Muslims worldwide. Muslims fast from dawn till sunset during this month. But where do they go to break their fast and commune in Nashville? Surprisingly, a coffee shop named “The Horn” has found itself at the center of this Ramadan tradition in this music city.

Community Gathering

The Horn Coffee Shop comes alive at 10 p.m. each night during Ramadan. The crowd, dressed in their finest garments after the ‘Tarawih’ (night prayer), pours into the coffee shop, generating a buzz of laughter and excitement. Over here, waiting in line for at least 45 minutes to order is part of the routine. But what sets this place apart is the distinct sense of community and inclusiveness it provides.

Huda Hasan, married to one of the brothers from the Somali family owning The Horn, beautifully encapsulates this feeling. “I was seeing people that I haven’t seen in forever, and we’re all reuniting here — all different cultures, backgrounds, everybody’s been coming. It’s not just Somali. I get to see my friends, everybody’s friends,” Hasan shares.

Ramadan Away From Home

For Huda and others who have been raised in the west, the Horn provides a taste of Ramadan as it’s celebrated in Muslim-majority countries. Many Muslims in America miss the communal festivities of Ramadan as they continue to juggle work or school life with fasting schedules and spiritual commitments during the day.

“We don’t get much of this living in the West. You know, we don’t live in a Muslim country, so celebrating Ramadan, a lot of times people don’t feel it,” Hasan expresses.

For Anas Saba, a 20-something-year-old Yemeni born and raised in Nashville, The Horn provides a third space where they can gather and foster connections, satisfying a long-felt need in Nashville’s Muslim community. “I think we’re really lucky to have them here, and to have them kind of fill the space in the community that I think was really needed, just having a place people can get together,” Saba shares.

The Horn’s Ramadan Nights

In these Ramadan nights at The Horn, a major focus point is ‘Iftar’, the breaking of the fast. Contrary to common ideas, the excitement around Iftar is not just about the food. It’s also about the chance to consciously and consistently gather with those you love, every night for a month. The Horn’s Ramadan Nights have been a delightful extension of this practice.

The final Ramadan Nights at The Horn are Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Ramadan ends Tuesday, April 9, with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.